Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-03-16
ELECTRIC LIGHT.
THE CLAIM MADE THAT COUNCIL CANNOT
INTERFERE,
Despite Col. CaldwsIrs 0piaisa, Addressed to
the Gas fruSes-A Brace Of
Interviews

DOsAIu VI Nar AAh5NCIo - W ~ ANS AeaN
of the Wheeling Electrical Company to
erect and maintain its poles and wires in
the streets of this city, City Solicitor
George B. Caldwell has filed an opinion at
the Office Of the Board, in which he comes
TO the conclusion that the line Of the COM
pany exists without legal warrant. The City
Solicitor admits that Council, several years
400 passed an ordinance granting permls-
sion To "a firm OF gentlemen to erect a
system of electric lighting, but claims that
the ordinance was never complied with by
1.-THE firm as far as the symmetry OF poles
"a concerned. and also that the firm has
been succeeded by the Wheeling Electrical
Company, 4 distict organization, composed
of different gentlemen. With this asa basis,
the Solicitor argued that the obligations
and contracts of the old firm" could not
be transferred without the consent OF the
city, and that the original franchise con-
terred by the city had been forfeited.
A REGISTER reporter met Col. A. J.
Sweeney, of the Electrical Company, yes
terday, and asked what he thought OF the
decision:
II want to say that l am very much
surprised, both at the conclusion reached
by Mr.. Caldwell, and the editorial COM
ments of the IRteihgeReeT," said MIR.
Sweeney. such Selfishness and marrow
miudedness IS well calculated to drive out
of Wheeling whatever enterprise our cin-
zeps may have. To have the sort of talk
/ refer to, come from the people who pro
Ee<s 10 be DESTROYS of booming the old
town IS very diseOuraging, to say the least.
We have been struggling for years to get
our electrical plant on a paying basis,
and this is the reception accorded Us.
l. this the way to encourage
new enterprises? Ii We are going TO make
A city out Of Wheeling, We have got to make
a little progress, and from the gas light to
the incandeScent lamp is a step forward,
but apparently some people have been rem
dered unhappy by a movement Of this
kind. They would rather get along with
gls, and O~ld-fOgyism, while our more pro-
g~reSsive neighbOring cities and towns keep
up with the progress of the country. Look
| al Pittsburg. She has gas as cheap Is ours,
and vet her streets are ablaze with electric
| Iiyhts. Parkersburg Is putting in the same
light. Every western town OF ten thou
sand population has it, but here We must
poke along. This, however, does not suit
| our company. We shall pay no attention
10 the decision, not attaching a great deal
of Importance To it, and shall continue
right along extending our plant. II COun-
ell attempts to interfere with our chartered
rights, we will make n fight
How about your charter? Is the
present company a newly incorporated
oneE'
NO, sir; we are operating under the
charter granted several years ago. We are
practically the same company, made up OF
the same individuals. We have simply
made a change in and improved our system
of lightning. We are going forward, and
il would be poor policy for the city OF
| Wheeling to interfere with Us because she
happens to own a gas-maEing plant. The
as works has been a benefit to the city,
beyond a doubt, but that is nc reason why
/ progress should he forever checked in order
TO ensure a monopoly TO the municipality.
Even a good thing may be carried tOOiar.'
Another gentleman identified with the
Electrical Company, and who is also of a
progressive turn OF mind, SAID:
W 4 40 uOl AOulN AlNlSdAiOht pNN ~ ~
same time, if Council attempts to interfere
with us, we will establish in the courts the
| right OF the people to have the convenience
of n good system of lighting, and at the
same time ascertain if the City of Wheel
ing has the right to m~OnOpOllze
the business of lighting the houses.
The ordinance passed by Council, to
which Mr.. Caldwell refers, WAS given IN
the name of the Wheeling Electrical Com
pany. We were then associated with the
| Fuller people, and put in their light.
/ shortly after the passage Of the ordinance
we were incorporated under the name We
had originally taken, and retain the name
to this day. We have issued more stock,
| equivalent to a firm taking in a new part
ner, but in no other sense has the Wheel
ing Electrical Company changed.
What about the poles you have put
up"
We fully complied with the ordinance
in erecting our old poles. They were iull
length and painted. The new poles have
not been painted as Yet, for the reason
that the men are running mp and down
them every day, and paint would Interfere
with them. When We are through string
ing II wires the poles will be painted.